Islamabad: Pakistan has reaffirmed the resolve to defend its water rights and sovereignty in view of the deepening nexus between India and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan to pursue water aggression. A report published in India Today reveals that the Taliban regime wants to construct a dam on River Kunar with India’s support to obstruct the flow of water to Pakistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, India is offering financial and technical support to the Taliban regime to construct dams like Naghlu, Darunta, Shahtoot, Shah wa Arus, Gambiri, and Baghdara. These dams can pose a serious threat to Pakistan’s water security. India has offered one billion dollars to the Taliban regime to pursue the agenda of water aggression. The aim of this India-Afghan complicity is to constrain Pakistan’s water system from both the east and west.

India has already unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and violated international water agreements with Pakistan and is now attempting to influence the Kabul River basin by constructing dams in Afghanistan. Pakistan receives on average 16.5 million acre-feet of water annually from the Kabul River, and the production of wheat, maize, and sugarcane in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Nowshera depends directly on this water.

To thwart this malicious Indo-Afghan agenda, Pakistan is considering a comprehensive defensive strategy which includes the Chitral River Diversion Project. Under this strategy, the Chitral River will be diverted toward the Swat basin before entering Afghanistan. This project will produce 2,453 megawatts of clean and renewable energy, will bring more land under cultivation, and reduce flood risks. The strategy falls fully within Pakistan’s water rights and is in accordance with international law.